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(No ModeL)" W. H. BARNUM. MACHINE FOR STIFFENING HATS.

No. 485,601. Patented Nov. '8, 1892.

mm I duo-0K WITNESSES:

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lower portion of the vat or reservoir.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BARNUM, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES H.MERRITT, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR STIFFENING HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,601, dated November8, 1892.

Application filed November 7, 1891. Serial No. 411,192- (No model.)

features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of a machineembodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3is a longitudinal section of a tube used to apply the stiffeningmaterial to a hat. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the tube shown inFig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the plane of the dotted lines 55, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail showing a certain gearing employed.

Similar letters and figures of referencedesignate corresponding parts inall the'figures.

A designates a vat or reservoir containing stiffening material, such asa solution of shellac. In its upper part is a strainer a. The solutionis introduced above the strainer, and such portion of it as is suitablefor use passes through the strainer into the lower part of the vat orreservoir. The vat or reservoir A is supported by a bed or table T, but,as here shown, is elevated above the latter by an intermediate block T.

B B designate tubes extending from the They are shown as supported atthe inner end by the vat or reservoir and at the outer end by extendinginto a bracket 6, erected on the bed or table T. Preferably these tubesare slightly inclined downwardly toward their outer ends, so that thestiffening material will flow from the vat or reservoir into them. Neartheir outer ends they are provided with oscillating valves or cocks 12'19 whose stems have aifixed to them arms 12 12 The outer ends of thesearms b b are pivotally connected to a link b and the arm b is pivotallyconnected to one end of a link 12 whose other end is pivotally connectedto alever b fulcrumed in a bracket or stand b erected on the bed ortable T. This lever is connected by a rod 12 with a treadle of anysuitable construction, so that the attendant of the machine may by meansof his foot raise the arms 19 b to open the valves or cocks b 19 On therelease of the treadle the valves or cocks will be closed by means of aspring 17 here shown as fastened to the link 12 and to the bed or tableT in such a way that it will pull the arms 12 b downward.

On the outer ends of the tubes B B are tubular sleeves b 12 constitutingdistributing-tubes. Portions of the tubes B B within these sleeves Z9 5are slotted. A single slot in the under part of the tube B and a singleslot in the upper part of the tube B will suffice. The sleeves b Z2 willpreferably be provided with a number of longitudinal slots. In thepresent instance each sleeve has four of these slots 1 2 3 4, either ofwhich may, by rotating the sleeve, be brought into line with the slotformed in the contiguous tube B or B The sleeves are fitted to thetubes, so as to be capable of rotation around the same. They may besimply retained by friction or by a screw Z9 passing through the end ofeach sleeve and engaging with a tapped hole in the end of the contiguoustube. The slots of each sleeve are of different length, but none islonger than the slot of the tube with which it is to coaot. Obviously byturning the sleeve upon its tube any one of the slots in the sleeve maybe brought into line with the slot in the tube, and according to thelength of the slot in the sleeve so will the flow of stiffening materialbe regulated. The length of the slot of the sleeve from which thestiffening material will flow also determines the width of material uponwhich the stiffening material will be deposited. It will be seen thatthe sleeves b b are close together. It is intended that there shall beICO intended in this example of my improvement that the tubes or theirsleeves shall rotate during the application of the stiffening material.

I preferably employ a guide for directing the material which is toreceive stiffening material between the sleeves b (9 and I have shownfor this purpose an arm 0, having a forked outer end, which will besubstantially on the same level as the space between the sleeves. Ashere shown, this arm is supported by the bracket 1), the connectionbeing made by slotting the arm longitudinally and passing through it ascrew that engages with a tapped hole in the bracket b. This connectionnot only allows of the longitudinal adjustment of the arm, but alsopermits of tilting it to different angles.

D D designate two rollers, here shown as made of conical form andmounted on shafts cl'd which converge toward theirouter ends.

Owing to this manner of forming the supports of the rollers theiropposite surfaces will be parallel, or substantially so. The shaft 61 issupported in journal-boxes (1 (1 which are clamped to an upright frameor bracket cl, which is erected upon the bed or table T of the machine.The clamping devices pass through vertical slots in this frame orbracket cl. Hence by slackening the clamping devices the journal-boxesmay be adjusted suitably to change the elevation or angle of inclinationof the shaft d and its roller D The clamping devices may be of anysuitable form. The shaft d is supported at one end in a j ournal-box (ifastened to the upright frame or bracket (1 and near the outer end in ajournal-box d, which is also fastened to the frame or bracket (1.Each'of the journal-boxes (1 cl has a shank (Z which extends through aslot in the frame or bracket (Z and at the rear end is screw-threaded toreceive a nut d". The shank d is surrounded by a sleeve (1", which fillsthe slot that is substantially the same size in diameter as thetransverse dimension or width of the slot of the frame or bracket (Zthrough which the shank passes. The front end of the sleeve is providedwith a flange or head, which is too large to pass through the slot ofthe frame or bracketcl. The rear end of the sleeve is screw-threaded andhas applied to it a nut (Z in rear of the frame or bracket (Z. The nut(i bears against the rear end of the sleeve (2. By tightening the nut (1of the sleeve d" the sleeve may be fastened in position upon the frameor bracket cl. If then the nut d is loosened, the journal-box, whoseshank is engaged with the nut, will be free to oscillate. The sleeve d",belonging to the journal-box (1 will be fixed in position by tighteningits nut (Z but the shank of its journal-box will be left free tooscillate in its sleeve. The shank of the journal-box cl will be leftloose in its sleeve c and the latter will also be left loose in its slotof the frame or bracket (1. The shaft cl can slide lengthwise in thejournal-box cl. Owing to this the shaft d, with its roller D, may beoscillated up and down upon the shank of the journal-box d as a centerof oscillation, so as to allow the roller D to move bodily toward andaway from the roller D The clamping devices described in connection withthe journal-boxes d (1 will answer for the journal-boxes d (1 but whenused for the latter all parts will be tightened.

The journal-box d is provided with an upwardly-extending arm or link (1,with the upper end of which is pivotally connected a lever E, that isfulcrumed by a pin 6 to a plate e, fastened to the frame or bracket d.This lever E is provided with a hook-shaped arm e whose upper endextends over a block or projection 2 located upon one side of the frameor bracket cl. A screw 6 passes vertically th rough the upper extremityof this hookshaped arm 6 and is adapted to rest upon the upper end ofthe block or projection 0 thus forming an adjustable support for theshaft cl of the roller D. The lever B may pass through the block orprojection e and be guided thereby.

The rollers D D will preferably be rotated continuously. As here shown,rotary motion may be imparted to the roller D through a belt applied toa pulley (1 on the shaft 61 Rotary motion is transmitted fromthe shaft dthrough a gear (Z to a gear (Z and from the latter through a gear c1 toa gear (31 affixed to the shaft a. Two gears 61 (Z are employed fortransmitting motion, so as to cause the rollers D D to be so rotatedthat their adjacent surfaces will be movingin the same direction. Theattendant may at any time elevate the roller D by raising the lever E.

The hat to be stiffened is passed between the rollers D D It thusreceives a film of stiffening material and afterward is subjected topressure between the rollers. It is only intended that the supply ofstiffening material shall be momentary. Hence the operation of thetreadle will be periodical. It may be necessary to pass the hat severaltimes between the sleevcs and rollers in order to properly apply thestiffening material to the desired surface. Obviously the lever E mightbe operated by a treadle, if desired. It is clear that one roller servesas a support for the hat and that the pressure with which the roller Dacts may be varied by force exerted through the lever E, assuming thatthe screw a shall be so adjusted that it will not touch the block orprojection 0 while a hat is passing beneath the roller D.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for applying stiffening ma terial to hats, thecombination of a tube provided with a slot and adapted to engage anddirectly impinge at its portion which contains said slot upon a hat-brimto deposit stifiening material thereon, asupport, and a roller adacentsaid support for applying pressure to the material after it has beendeposited, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine for applying stiffening ma terial, the combination of atube for depositing the material,provided with a longitudinal slot, asleeve having a series of slots of difien.

ent lengths fitted to the portion of the tube where the slot is located,a roller for applying pressure to the material after it has beendeposited, and a supportyadjacent "said roller, substantially asspecified.

3. In a machine for applying stiffening material to hats, thecombination of a slotted tube adapted to engage and directly impinge atits portion which contains the slot upon a hat-brim to depositstifiening material thereon, a valve for controlling the passage of thematerial through the tube, a roller for applyerating the valve, asupport, andva roller for applying pressure to the material after it hasbeen deposited, substantially as specified.

5. In a machine for applying stiffening material to bats, theoombination,with feed-pressure rollers, of longitudinally-slotted tubesfor simultaneously applying stiffening material to both sides of ahat-brim, and a vat or reservoir communicating with said tubes,substantially as specified. 1

6. In a machine for applying stiffening material to hats, thecombination of a tube pro- 40 vided with a slot and adapted to engageand directly impinge at its portion which contains said slot upon-ahat-brim to deposit stiffening material thereon, a guide for directingthe article to be stiffened toward the said tube, a support, and aroller for applying pressure to the material after it has beendeposited, sub stantially as specified. I

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses,

WILLIAM H. BARNUM.

